Bioadsorbents for removal of microplastics from water ecosystems: a review

Microplastics (MPs) present a pressing environmental concern, posing formidable challenges to their effective elimination from water systems. Bioadsorbents offer a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative to traditional removal methods. This review analyzes 206 research papers (2016-J...

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Main Authors: Patrick Mulindwa, Job S. Kasule, Florence Nantaba, John Wasswa, Antonio Jose Expósito
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Sustainable Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19397038.2024.2374003
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author Patrick Mulindwa
Job S. Kasule
Florence Nantaba
John Wasswa
Antonio Jose Expósito
author_facet Patrick Mulindwa
Job S. Kasule
Florence Nantaba
John Wasswa
Antonio Jose Expósito
author_sort Patrick Mulindwa
collection DOAJ
description Microplastics (MPs) present a pressing environmental concern, posing formidable challenges to their effective elimination from water systems. Bioadsorbents offer a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative to traditional removal methods. This review analyzes 206 research papers (2016-January 2024) to explore recent advances in bioadsorbent design and application for microplastic removal. We examine the sources and ecological impacts of MPs, then delve into the most studied bioadsorbents: biochar (51.9%), biomass-derived activated carbon (7.4%), synthetic sponges/aerogels (25.9%), and graphene-based materials (14.8%). The review critically analyzes factors influencing MP adsorption by these materials, including MP type and size, adsorbent properties, and experimental conditions. Reported removal efficiencies ranged from 31% to 100%, with polystyrene (52%) being the most common test polymer. Finally, the intricate mechanisms of MP-bioadsorbent interaction are discussed. We highlight key challenges and future research directions for optimising and scaling up bioadsorbent-based MP removal, acknowledging the early stage of this promising and sustainable approach.
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1939-7046
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series International Journal of Sustainable Engineering
spelling doaj-art-f65391b36b9e4189aa9dd2f586c7f9ac2024-12-12T09:08:32ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Sustainable Engineering1939-70381939-70462024-12-0117158259910.1080/19397038.2024.2374003Bioadsorbents for removal of microplastics from water ecosystems: a reviewPatrick Mulindwa0Job S. Kasule1Florence Nantaba2John Wasswa3Antonio Jose Expósito4Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, UKMicroplastics (MPs) present a pressing environmental concern, posing formidable challenges to their effective elimination from water systems. Bioadsorbents offer a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative to traditional removal methods. This review analyzes 206 research papers (2016-January 2024) to explore recent advances in bioadsorbent design and application for microplastic removal. We examine the sources and ecological impacts of MPs, then delve into the most studied bioadsorbents: biochar (51.9%), biomass-derived activated carbon (7.4%), synthetic sponges/aerogels (25.9%), and graphene-based materials (14.8%). The review critically analyzes factors influencing MP adsorption by these materials, including MP type and size, adsorbent properties, and experimental conditions. Reported removal efficiencies ranged from 31% to 100%, with polystyrene (52%) being the most common test polymer. Finally, the intricate mechanisms of MP-bioadsorbent interaction are discussed. We highlight key challenges and future research directions for optimising and scaling up bioadsorbent-based MP removal, acknowledging the early stage of this promising and sustainable approach.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19397038.2024.2374003Biomass materialsadsorptionremoval mechanisms
spellingShingle Patrick Mulindwa
Job S. Kasule
Florence Nantaba
John Wasswa
Antonio Jose Expósito
Bioadsorbents for removal of microplastics from water ecosystems: a review
International Journal of Sustainable Engineering
Biomass materials
adsorption
removal mechanisms
title Bioadsorbents for removal of microplastics from water ecosystems: a review
title_full Bioadsorbents for removal of microplastics from water ecosystems: a review
title_fullStr Bioadsorbents for removal of microplastics from water ecosystems: a review
title_full_unstemmed Bioadsorbents for removal of microplastics from water ecosystems: a review
title_short Bioadsorbents for removal of microplastics from water ecosystems: a review
title_sort bioadsorbents for removal of microplastics from water ecosystems a review
topic Biomass materials
adsorption
removal mechanisms
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19397038.2024.2374003
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